Forêt Urbaine in Paris

Forêt Urbaine

Design: Matteo Cainer Architects

Location: Paris, France

Forêt Urbaine

Work has continued on the renovation and transformation of the 1433 sqm Parisian penthouse apartment. With structural works now completed, the once fragmented, somber and abandoned apartment is coming back to life as a light-flooded penthouse with magnificent views over the city.

With Design development has continued especially on all the exterior spaces and on the landscaping. Due to architectural constraints and impositions from the building’s natural ventilation system, multiple chimneys pierce the apartment. To diminish their disruption we both deviated and transformed them into strong design statements that reinforce the concept of the Forêt Urbaine. Like trees, these chimneys are now sculpted, iconic elements that outline both the interiors and roof-scape, allowing for unexpected views, spaces and shadows.

The landscape design, which is the driving concept for the project, has been carefully curated not only to establishes a direct dialogue between nature and the particular architectural spaces, but also to select a specifically wide range of autochthone plants so as to potentially foster biodiversity with the cities’ surrounding parks.

The project has now removed a total of 680 tons of concrete to give space to light and the nature through 14 types of trees, 28 types of shrubs and 43 varieties of floral plants.